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Canadian Cops Make the Sound of Nickelback 1 More Reason Not to Drive Drunk

Get caught driving drunk in Kensington, Prince Edward Island, and police say they play the band's music for you on the way to jail

This is how you remind people to not drive drunk, according to a small-town Canadian police department: Nickelback.

This weekend, the Kensington Police Service of Prince Edward Island posted a picture to Facebook of the Canadian rock group's 2001 cassette "Silver Side Up," along with a playful threat to open it in the event of arresting drunk drivers.

“Know that the Kensington Police Service will be out for the remainder of [the] year looking for those dumb enough to feel they can drink and drive,” the post said. “And when we catch you, and we will catch you, on top of a hefty fine, a criminal charge and a year’s driving suspension we will also provide you with a bonus gift of playing the office’s copy of Nickelback in the cruiser on the way to jail.”

The Kensington police referred to this offering as the “drinking and driving gift - Christmas bonus edition.” The post, which was later deleted, also warned drivers to drink responsibly and advised them to make transportation plans ahead of holiday parties.

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Facebook / Screenshot
A since-deleted Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, Facebook post by Canada's Kensington Police Service jokingly threatening drunken drivers with having to listen to the band Nickelback, as seen on Nov. 30. in a Google cache.

Nickelback is known for an aggressive, hard rock sound that's earned six Grammy nominations, but also made the band something of a punch line to many. A 2013 poll of 830 Americans found the band slightly more popular than deeply maligned Congress, and last year police in Australia put out a wanted poster on Facebook, saying the band committed "crimes against music," according to the CBC.

The Kensington police Facebook post received plenty of feedback, much of it positive, and even replied to some of the comments.

"Doesn't the Geneva Convention specifically forbid 'cruel and unusual punishment,'" one user joked.

"Not if we play it softly," cops retorted.

The department did clarify that they do not, in fact, hate Nickelback, but were looking to grab people’s attention to spread the age old message about drinking and driving.

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